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‘There Is Corruption on Both Sides’: Former Border Patrol, DHS Agent Says Border Policy ‘Not Working’

Former Border Patrol Agent David Ramirez Says US Border Security Policy Not Working

Source: The Texas Tribune

A former U.S. Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent has written a tell-all book entitled, Beneath the Same Sky, which exposes many inconvenient truths about our border with Mexico.

In the book, David Ramirez describes what the border really looks like today. He also confirms what many already know to be true: the southwestern border is extremely attractive to terrorists who wish to “do harm to the U.S.” – including radical Islamists. Some of Ramirez‘s comments seemingly contradict what some senior DHS officials say about how secure America’s borders and border towns are.

“The objective, I would say, for people who want to do harm to the U.S. would be to get in to the U.S. One of the ways they get to the U.S. is the Southwest border,” he told The Texas Tribune.

Ramirez continued, “Now, in the book I wrote about Middle Eastern smugglers who smuggled hundreds of males into the United States. We prosecuted seven or eight of them and they each admitted to smuggling hundreds. The 9/11 commission alleged there were ties to terrorism, so the potential is definitely there. Whether it is U.S. law enforcement or Mexican law enforcement, if they take money, they are on the take for aliens, for dope or terrorists. They are on the take for everything, so there is corruption on both sides.”

(Related: Are Drug Cartels Learning From Islamic Terrorist Groups?)

The author also talks about the widespread corruption that has poisoned Mexican law enforcement and says it is about time that the U.S. government take more responsibility for securing the border; something the Constitution requires them to do.

He says the job of a border agent is more dangerous today than it was three decades ago when he began his career. In a lengthy interview with The Texas Tribune, Ramirez opened up about his experiences.

From Ramirez’s interview with The Tribune:

TT: You write in vignettes about your work life then follow them with stories about your personal life. What prompted you to write the book the way you did?

DR: First of all, it was never my intent to write a book. This is a result of what I call personal jottings, personal stories that I did for my benefit. And it eventually became a book. But I don’t want to say now: “I want to tell my story about how it should be or how it was.” I think readers can take from it what they want.

TT: The “cantaloupe” vignette (about allowing Mexicans to cross illegally to help U.S. farmers pick crops on the condition that 20 would later “surrender” to INS authorities) talks about bargaining. The department gets its funding, the workers get their money and the farmers get the crops picked. Was it really that simple back in the day?

DR: It was, and I still think it is that simple. That’s just the reality of things, and that is another reason I was encouraged to publish this — a lot of Americans don’t get that view of the border, and in reality that is the way it was. The workers needed the jobs, the farmers needed to get the job done and the Border Patrol agents needed the stats for Congress. So in that story, in that reality, we all got what we needed. And the deal was made harmoniously.

TT: What has changed since that incident to now as far as why it’s not that simple today?

DR: I did that and it wasn’t necessarily agreed upon on, and I think that is one of the points that I am trying to make. One thing is to sit up in California, D.C., Seattle, wherever, and make judgments. And the other one is to be right there on the river and make decisions. So it wasn’t encouraged, but at the time, I was there on the ground and that’s the way it worked out. But it was not approved or encouraged or authorized.

TT: You also said that back in the day you’d get a load and the smugglers would run back to Mexico, but now they are shooting at you. Is it more dangerous now than when you were an agent?

DR: Definitely. And the world is changing, obviously. Before, most of them were economic migrants. Even the ones that were smuggling, what we called “mules,” we would go up to them and they would scatter or run back and leave the contraband. Now they shoot back and they have armed guards, and it’s escalated.

TT: One side says most of the people coming over are just here to do hard work, and the other side says most of the people coming over are doing so to commit crimes, do us harm and run drugs. Where do you fall in that spectrum?

DR: I am sure most adults realize that it’s not 100 percent either way. Not everybody comes over here to work, but not everybody comes over here to commit a crime. I think most of them are economic migrants, and like in anything in any nationality and any business, there is that percentage that wants to take advantage of the system.

TT: You had at one point, the future leader of the Juárez Cartel, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, in your grasp (when you pulled him over and found an AR-15 and three boxes of ammunition). How did you feel having to let him go and then realizing who he was and what he became later?

DR: I just thought it was interesting. It was part of the job; it was somebody I encountered doing my job. He was a charismatic guy. We did our efforts to get him prosecuted and the agencies for whatever reason didn’t want to pursue him. It was business, we encountered him, no one wanted to prosecute him, we wished him a good day and later he became what he became.

TT: You wrote that he laid out the rules of the game: no innocent people, leave the press alone and so on. What happened to create this shift in Mexico where it is no holds barred and cartels are violating these rules now and being outwardly ruthless?

DR: I really couldn’t answer that. I can only tell you that it is the supply and demand, the magnet is so strong. The arrangements with political parties in Latin America or sometimes even the U.S., it changes. And I don’t think he actually wrote those rules, but he followed them.

TT: Is Mexican law enforcement as difficult to work with as many U.S. officials say? Is there an element you can’t trust? Are most on the take? Or are they trying to do better things for their country?

DR: I have a lot of respect for Mexican law enforcement at the higher levels. At the lower levels I respect them as well because they are trying to do an impossible job with no training and no real financial support, which one could say leads to the corruption. But in my six years in Mexico City, the higher-level officers that I dealt with, I saw they wanted to do the right thing, they are honorable gentlemen. But it’s time to acknowledge that we are the ones that have the demand for what we expect them to take care of. There is the idea of saying that we want all these drugs and we are willing to pay whatever price, but Mexico and Latin America needs to take care of its problems.

TT: So you think the United States needs to take more responsibility?

DR: Definitely, in one way or another. I am not for legalization, but you either legalize it or build more prisons or start chopping off hands. But what we’re doing now is not working.

TT: Why do you think the United States has been so reluctant to acknowledge its responsibility?

DR: I think that maybe it’s because it doesn’t affect the general American public as much as it does people on the border. What affects them is the price of the drug they do. They don’t see the crime, they don’t see the murders; they see that the price shifts.

TT: Do you anticipate any radical change immediately after next month’s Mexican election?

DR: I say no, but I am not an expert, and the book is not about politics. I think that the change that needs to happen has to happen with both countries. It can’t be one and not the other. It has to be both working together.

TT: Is the Southwest border attractive or vulnerable to Middle Eastern extremists or terrorists?

DR: I don’t want to narrow it down to Middle Eastern terrorists. The objective, I would say, for people who want to do harm to the U.S. would be to get in to the U.S. One of the ways they get to the U.S. is the Southwest border. Now, in the book I wrote about Middle Eastern smugglers who smuggled hundreds of males into the United States. We prosecuted seven or eight of them and they each admitted to smuggling hundreds. The 9/11 commission alleged there were ties to terrorism, so the potential is definitely there. Whether it is U.S. law enforcement or Mexican law enforcement, if they take money, they are on the take for aliens, for dope or terrorists. They are on the take for everything, so there is corruption on both sides.

TT: A lot of people are quick to say that Mexican law enforcement officers are corrupt, but you highlight several U.S. agents who are on the take. How infiltrated is U.S. law enforcement?

DR: I don’t know how infiltrated. I can only tell you my experiences and what I saw. It was the lure of the money, and as I write in the book, they offer this inspector $50,000 for what I call a “wave” — a loaded vehicle to come through the port. And they guaranteed them five vehicles a week, so you are talking that kind of money, which is tempting. You have to be a man or a woman who knows their moral ground so say, “No. I am not doing it.”

TT: It sounds like you are saying that for any law enforcement agent in whatever country, if the price is right, then the potential is there.

DR: Definitely. That is a good statement.

TT: If you could wave a magic wand and have every reader come away with one uniform perception, what would it be?

DR: Enjoy the moments of your life and take the time to view them; don’t just run through them. View the moments and enjoy them and take the good with the bad and the bad with the good.

Comments (34)

  • Attila_the_Hunney
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:52pm

    “Border policy not working.“ ”They get into the U.S over the southwest border.” This guy is a genius. Thirty years ago,border patrol agents OFTEN caught arabs coming over the mexican border into San Diego. None of this is news. I think the story may be satire.

    Report Post »  
  • frogg
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 8:11pm

    Give me a break!!!!! With Millions of Mexicans here against the Law! Of course our Boarder Policy isn’t working!!!! DUH!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » frogg  
  • another pucker
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:21pm

    I lived in El Paso in the late 80′s moving there at the beginning of my senior year.
    We partially have this problem because we cater to illegal’s like offering everything in english and spanish.
    Example: Why am I seeing a Toyota Corolla add on the Blaze “en espanol”?!!!!!!!! ;0 ARGH!!!!!!!

    XOXOXO

    Report Post »  
  • joe alexich
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:57pm

    Maybe there is too much social engineering going on when we hire the border patrol crew.******** in public place by woman agent, this is what we have.Union ********.

    Report Post »  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:53pm

    But…>>…But…..OBAMER says it IS WORKING and that EVERYTHING IS FINE!

    Report Post » Grace1798  
  • closetotheedge
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:54pm

    Yes Indeed, When you go to buy groceries,on one side its’ english and the other,spanish? Yeah, we’ve been invaded!! And by the jihadist muslums, Hamas n Hezballa, last yr seen tunnels that were exact copies of the ones in Gaza that can move ‘Rockets’ thru them!! Of course, that increased traffic and in comes jihad just waiting for ‘the call’. We,being the Great satan, Islam has called for the total destruction of us and as with Israel, total genicide in very extreme ways,chem’,bio‘ nuc’, definitely power grids and EMPs’, totally down, and chaos eaerywhere. Which one they choose is a major hit and combined with an attack in the Miiddle East, our Fearless Leader n his minions would be underground while the militarized police/fed,try to bring order that’s completely out the window except where people are trapped in cities,factories, then you may not get a chance to get out and then you gocamping at the local Fema Hyatt Inns, Which might be in the San Francisco Subway that they are installing thru out the system to watch every posible foot any person can be seen. This system also has the abilities to for-see if a crime might happen just by the way a person acts and then take action and nab the poor guy and your guilty unless you’re a radical muslum… SF Sub will make a nice prison with all the cams’ as the rest of our cities are doing. But an EMP would rule out order for how long? It’s gonna be that bad and worse. Total control or out of control ?? Hmmmmmmmmm

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    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 4:17pm

      “Border Policy ‘Not Working’ ” Ya, don’t say !!!!
      Is that why we have 20 Million illegals in America ???
      O‘Blamer hasn’t done much to STOP THE FLOW…
      Sueing AZ., and several other States..HMMMMM !!!!
      Wonder if he is working for a VOTE ????? NAAAA !!
      POTUS wouldn’t do that ..

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
  • ICEDRAGONNITE
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:44pm

    The reason why the border is still a problem is because both sides planned this chaos back in the 80′s just before NAFTA. The beefing up of all police forces around the country when the crime rate was in free fall, then all the open border policies came in being. So the rest of the drug war, fast and furious, and the illegal immigration and Aztlan and the rest of the nonsense could be changed in a heart beat if they want. The US Military on the ENTIRE border with the guns facing south. NO ONE CROSSES WITH OUT THE PROPER VISA. End of many problems. Then as the illegals are discovered send them home, regardless of time here. They could have straightened it out long ago. They made a choice.

    Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:18pm

    played hide and seek with iIIegals for 15yrs on the wsw texas border…

    we are being invaded

    mexicans ,south.americans and otm’s.

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
  • ContinentalArmy
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:39am

    How else can Obama get his Brothers into the U.S.A? Fly them over on Air Force One? We all already know how much Obama Supports his Muslim Brothers! Too bad he Owns the SCOTUS! It’s up to The People to do the Governments job for them and do it Better than they can!

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 4:27am

    It’s really sad how low the comments are on this thread. It’s very apparent that the Obama White House (which Obama apparently owns) has about zero interest in what enemies are freely crossing our south-western borders. The Federal Government is supposed to protect Americans from foreign invaders. Yep, that’s their MAIN duty. Those of you who are far left, is it OK with you that terrorist are allowed to enter the USA under the guise of open borders?

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    • Stoic one
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:21am

      Diane I think he is Extremely interested in the ‘votes’ crossing north into the USA. That and a possible ‘homegrown’ terrorist or two.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:09am

      Not working? no kidding?

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • Jhn'1
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 3:41am

    The main reason we can’t “win” the drug war, are the proscriptions set by the Federal judiciary.
    The ROE, so to speak.
    The “random” drug testing (but not even as often as every other year) combined with no firing, but voluntary drug rehab (maximum, and no penalty for repeat offenders) only as punishment mean a losing battle before it starts.
    Back in the 90s, I worked for a drug company that negotiated with three insurances (workmen’s comp and medical coverage were two of the three) to cover the costs of regular scheduled drug testing. Firing those who failed.
    Before the program started the rules were changed by the black robes.
    No firing.
    Random intervals, and not even once a year. (CDL and military now allowed waivers from this)
    Expensive rehab only “punishment” allowed.
    RP Scherer expected to pay for the testing from reduced claims/lowered ins. rates.
    That expectation based upon getting rid of druggies prone to on job injuries and suspected thefts and work related errors and reduced liability probabilities, which of course as the original premise wasn’t allowed, the hoped for benefits didn’t happen at any level.
    So, now you have to worry if the crane operator working on the bridge you are driving under is stoned.
    Or if the officer responding to a neighbor’s (embellished) noise complaint is wired.
    Or if your kid’s school bus driver is seeing spiders crawl all over them.
    Or even if your Mother’s cardiologist is having withdrawal DTs before her open h

    Report Post »  
    • Jhn'1
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 3:49am

      The insurance companies would have pushed for testing or charged more in premiums for policies that did not test (and fire) drug using (presumed abusing) employees. That would mean that almost all middle class jobs and all production jobs, or heavy machinery, or hazardous environment and/or equipment and a welfare recipients and even upper class jobs that cannot afford the political pressure of having drug user insurance policies in place.

      That means what is left is a much smaller fight, and one that could possibly be won, and even if not, much less cash flow corrupting everybody’s governments.

      Report Post »  
  • mrmarkjohnson
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 3:19am

    Fascinating. This book looks like a definite must read.

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 2:20am

    Amazing that Obama expects the American public to believe that only innocent “fruit pickers” are crossing our south-western borders. We have an incompetent dolt in the White House. Obama’s only working history is that he organized “protestors” against the establishment. It‘s quite a joke that he’s now “the establishment”. Lol!

    Report Post »  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:46am

    Many of the Dems are seeing the light and they are backing off of him. Look at the people who have gone against him, then all of a sudden they are back tracking. Probably threatened their kids like they did the Clinton’s to get Hillary to stop running for office. Now he is bringing in his homies to do his bidding.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:28am

    Just for those who want to know: Up until this President, I have respected all Presidents and never said publically anything about them as I figured they were doing the best they could with what they had to work. This man, not because he is half black, is a phony and does not belong in the Office. I would have voted for Alan West and at one time for Herman Cain. This man has about ruined this country and keeps on making decisions that is contrary to the betterment of this country. I was not much on Carter, but I never publically criticized him. He did get those captured 55 (I believe it was 55) or so people home. This Obama is an evil man who has not got his heart in America or perhaps anywhere. There is something bad the matter with this man with his detachment issues. Something is just not jelling with him. This man is more than likely not eligible and this should be a continued issue. Hopefully he will not be reelected, and I truely believe he or Michelle do no want to be re-elected. They know their time in the sun is about up. They, I believe, with the evidience I have seen and what I have read, have no business in Our (not his) White House. Those backing him want him to finish destroying this country. His heart does not seem in it, nor has his heart been in it from the beginning, at least not to promote and strengthen this Republic and abide by the Truth in the Constitution. If this man has come into office without being eligible, then Congress needs to act upon this.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:50am

      You underestimate how badly our congress has been corrupted ..they now understand how evil Obama is,they stay silent because of fear of exposure for their crimes..The corruption and stealing is easy to see,but Obama controls them with their greed. Tha’ts politics

      Report Post »  
  • MCDAVE
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:20am

    Sometime in the near future these terrorists will attack our cities with weapons of mass destruction, chemical or biological weapons..Obama let them in..he is well informed about the border threat…Anyone still think its OK to leave him in power until November?..Look at the truth that’s right in front of us. Obama is the greatest threat to national security we face

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:15am

    It wasn’t meant to work. This phony President needs the votes from the illegals. Congress better get off their azz and get this phoney man out of office.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • REPUB1
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:49am

    “DHS Agent Says Border Policy ‘Not Working’
    its working out GREAT for the Border TRASH>………………………………..

    Report Post »  
  • PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:16am

    Confusion is the game. TSA rapes, DHS intrusions, and claim the border is secure while allowing the terrorists to cause a mass killing in the US. This is the Obummer plan. The goal is martial law and a dictatorship to keep obummer in power.

    Report Post »  
  • PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:12am

    No crisis should go to waste is the Obummer plan. Allow the terrorist in and let the crisis happen.
    Use the crisis to execute martial law and open the FEMA camps for US citizens. It’s all part of the plan folks. The gov. wants a false flag event.

    Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:11am

      This is why they do nothing to secure the border

      Report Post »  
  • dynaboy
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:11am

    This guy sounds like he hates well maybe not hates but has a chip on his back about the US and if he is saying this stuff now maybe we should prosecute him form the crimes he aloud to happen,why didn’t he blow whistle to much of a coward

    Report Post » dynaboy  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:38pm

    Annexation of Mexico (and all its problems) will soon follow.

    Bloating America to the point where it explodes.

    ?Como esta?

    Regular.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:53pm

      “Not Working” REALLY? Those who “honestly” report the statistics will tell you that there are “at least” 40,000 OTM’s (other than Mexicans) who invade our country MONTHLY…AND…this has been going on for several YEARS! We put up with this America! We put up with it! Who are we going to blame when we have another 9/11 in this country? Members of our government will ALWAYS blame it on someone else! AND…they are destroying our Sonoran Desert! There are no words to describe this…DISGUSTING!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • theblazerunner
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:22pm

      not sure about 40,000 a month…but, at least 15thousand otms.

      Report Post » theblazerunner  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:35pm

    ~~Yawn~~

    ———————————————————————–
    “Foreseeing future corruption in the law enforcement agencies as a result of the Volstead Act, future New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia commented that, “it would take a police force of 250,000 to enforce the Prohibition Act and another 200,000 to police the police.”

    True to La Guardia’s prediction, Prohibition spawned organized crime, bootlegging and corruption among the police on an unprecedented scale. It is fair to say that the Volstead Act indirectly gave rise to the American Mafia, along with it’s most famous figure, Al Capone.”

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:16pm

    “Not working” … I would say that is an understatement .. then again for something to “work” you actually have to WANT to do it. Our government has little will to secure the border … especially Obama counting on illegals voting . why else would he try to stop Florida from purging the dead and illegal from our voter rolls?

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:51pm

      Not working indeed; the clear fact of corruption is that it has stemmed from DC, and the policies of allowing an unsecured border, not rooting out the bad and corrupt for such a long time has made the entire area North and South a no-mans-land in which violence will soon erupt. I can see Obama making such a play over some small border matter and declare war on Mexico to ‘go after the cartels’ and embroidal us in another international mess.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  

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